Identifier: sciencerecordcom1874beac (find matches)
Title: The Science record; a compendium of scientific progress and discovery
Year: 1872 (1870s)
Authors: Beach, Alfred Ely, 1826-1896
Subjects: Technology Industrial arts
Publisher: New York, Munn
Contributing Library: Smithsonian Libraries
Digitizing Sponsor: Smithsonian Libraries

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onstituted an important part of his art. Indeed,he observed, I have to know the structure of a diamondfar more intimately than a physician that of the humanbody. As hardly any two stones are alike, and no rulecan be laid down for the work, some idea may be gainedof the consummate skill which enables a man to pick up atiny fragment, glance at it once, and instantly detect notonly flaws or streaks, but where they are located, in theheart or on the surface, to make up his mind exactly whatmicroscopic pieces must be removed, their size, and howthey may be cut to turn them to best account, and, finally, TECHNOLOGY. 91 how to so divide the stone as to produce the best color.And all this so quickly that, although we saw half a dozenstones operated upon, we asked afterward, When theworkman had examined them ? We had not noticed thesingle swift look given at each, as one after another wa*split by the artist as he continued his explanations. Placing the spindle containing the gem upright before
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DIAMOND-CUTTING IN NEW-YORK.—THE CUTTER OR SNYDER. him, the operator placed one of his knives directly overthe cleft. The knife used was nothing more than a pieceof steel, perfectly flat, with a square edge, and about sixinches long. It is ground blunt purposely, for if it werekeen, the hard stone would quickly turn the edge. Tap- 92 SCIENCE RECORD.

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